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 #1842650


Keeper of silver
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 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

Hi, I have been reading and reading and reading some more on Uro’s. Our uro has only been with us for 2 weeks and we are trying very hard to do everything right. I don’t have time to fill out the "Read before posting" information so for right now I will just ask some questions. Here we go.

1. Our male Mali Uro is 8-8 1/2 inches long. How old do you figure he could be?

2. I saw criticism on digital suction thermometers with probes. This is what we have. I saw that the temperature reads can be off by as much as 20 degrees so I took a digital meat probe thermometer (LOL) and checked it. There was only a couple degrees difference. What are you supposted to use?

I will add that our temps are as follows: Basking 125-135 Cool side 85 Hide about 85 (it is on the cool side). Night temps lower about 75. I do think we may need a larger tank but this will have to do for now until we can find one on free cycle, craigs list or garage sale (that is how we got this tank) It’s size is 30x12x12

3. What time of day is the best time to feed. Should you take the dish out after so many hours or just clean and refill the next day? We are trying to get on a consistant schedule.

4. How much should a uro of this size eat or be offered. It is hard to tell how much he has eaten since the greens he does not eat shrivel due to the heat. His current diet is mustard greens, yellow squash, carrots and uro dust and all miners every other day for each. Last week he had bok choy, mustard greens, broccoli (I know easy on the broccoli) and carrots. We are trying to give variety as well as use things we are currently eating as well. I have only seen him eat the greens so he must be picky. We also offer him a snack dish with seeds.

5. He does spend alot of time in his hide (but maybe he comes out when we are not here) We try not to hold him more than once a day and then for only 3-4 minutes. Which brings up a stupid question, he is calmer when we hold him belly side up. Is this like some kind of trance, or does he like it or what? We did not hold him or change his furniture around for the first week but I think he is still a little tramatized, we take his hide out when we feed him in hopes he will see his food and eat, then later we replace the hide. (that is probably a big no no). We are still experimenting trying to get the feeding down.


I think I will stop for now, I’m sure I will have many more questions as we continue to learn. Thank you for any help you may offer.



08/25/08  10:26pm

 #1842860


Skullkeeper
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   Message To: Keeper of silver   In reference to Message Id: 1842650


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

Welcome ! There is to much info to put into one post . Try to read as many post as possible .I would not handle your Uro unless absolutely necessary . They are an observation type of pet . It can take a month or more for it to get acclimated .Your right you do need a larger cage asap. It is recommend to have one 48"x24"x24" in order to get the right temp. gradient . You can buy digital thermometers at Walmarts or any home improvement store for under $20 each . They have a battery back up and I would get two, one for each end . One should have a hydrometer on it to measure the humidity level. A infra red temp. gun is best for checking your basking area temps . I feed right before I turn the lights on in the morning .I rince the fresh veggies in cold water, shake off the excess, then feed. Fill the food bowl so he can eat as much as he wants . Many Uros actually like their greens dried out a little . I remove the food bowl about 2 hours before the lights go out at night . Give fresh the next day . If he eats all the veggies I refill the dish in the afternoon. I would only feed mustard greens as a treat once a week. Carrots are mainly sugar and should only be feed occasionally . I do not feed corn or carrots at all,but that’s just me . Same thing with peas, they are sweet so only feed as a treat. You want him to eat what is good for him. Do not feed crickets, worms , spinach, broccoli, kale ,sunflower seeds ,or red kidney beans at all.They can kill your Uro. His main diet should be endive, escarole , dandelion greens/flowers, squash, mango,and pesticide free edible flowers.Lentils that have been soaked over night and finch seed can be fed once a week .Bok choy , cantaloupe ,sweet bell peppers, and bee pollen granules can be fed every week or two. Go easy on supplements .Uro dust can cause constipation. My Mali would not eat his veggies if I put Uro Dust on them. Only use a very small amount no more than once a week. If he has a good varied diet he should not need them.

Make sure you have a good UVB light .If using a fluorescent bulb, it should be no farther away from the bottom of the cage than 12 inches, closer is better with no screen or covering between it and the Uro .

Check out:

Link
Link
Link

for care sheets and more info
08/26/08  08:38am

 #1842993


Rtl402
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   Message To: Skullkeeper   In reference to Message Id: 1842860


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

SK, good suggestion to read up on care sheets, however there is no care sheet on Urotopia that I have ever seen.
This is the direct link to the Uro info on kingsnake.
Link 1

As far as cage size, temps, food, etc. everything mentioned by SK is correct. You will need to make some adjustments for your Uro to have a happy, healthy life in captivity. Uro’s may not be the cheapest pets to have, but they are more then worth it for their amazing personalities.
08/26/08  11:51am

 #1843191


Keeper of silver
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   Message To: Skullkeeper   In reference to Message Id: 1842860


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

Thank you for the detailed information. A lot of it I have read but some of it was new and you definately gave me new and helpful information about the food. Also thanks for the links I will read them all tonight. Did you have a guess on the age thing?
08/26/08  03:52pm

 #1843248


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Keeper of silver   In reference to Message Id: 1843191


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

What size enclosure do you have him in ? And what are his temps ?
Those things are much more important then how old he is.



08/26/08  05:13pm

 #1843720


Keeper of silver
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   Message To: Jbreddawg   In reference to Message Id: 1843248


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

The temps and enclosures are all in the original post. I know the enclosure needs to be larger and I am working on it. I know age is not as important as his health obviously. We just wanted to give him a birthday and be able to say our 1 year old uro or 3 year old uro etc. in the future.
08/26/08  11:27pm

 #1843723


Gnuby
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   Message To: Keeper of silver   In reference to Message Id: 1843720


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

I don’t know Goober’s birthday or how old he is, we just use the day we got him as his ’birthday’. Hope that helps!
08/26/08  11:34pm

 #1844278


Sahells Mom
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   Message To: Gnuby   In reference to Message Id: 1843723


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

At 8 to 8 1/2" he is probably over two, but not quite three. They grow very slowly, and so often people are told their uro is a baby. A baby uro is very tiny and oh, so cute!!! (you can see some on the forum if you look in the archives).



08/27/08  04:15pm

 #1844403


Skullkeeper
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   Message To: Keeper of silver   In reference to Message Id: 1843191


 New to forum, New Uro, lots of questions

I agree with Sahell- probably between two and three years old



08/27/08  06:12pm


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